i know theres a lot of discussion on what bolt ons work for the C6 and the ls2. ive done a fair amount of searching and found some answers.

this is what ive found so far.

air intakes work but you want see the gains on the dyno only at a track. anyone specifically tested the blackwing?

headers and cats are good enough as the factory mufflers flow rather well. what about just high flow cats from Random tech?

some people say 1-3/4 primaries for better mid range power while others say 1-7/8 primaries are the only ones worth putting on. i havent seen any dyno graphs for each one so I can only take someones word. anyone happen to have a dyno graph or tried both sizes before?

what about a 160* thermostat? i know the factory one is 200* but will the 160* help the engine run any cooler or just keep it from heating up so quick? i know with other cars without turning the fans on sooner it wont help keep the temps down, but the other cars dont have 200* thermostats either.

how many people would rather spend money on a cam and maybe ported heads than the bolt ons? the costs work out to be about the same. i know bolt ons will help a cam out, thats simply the science of engines. however, it appears that the factory parts are capable of supporting a small cam and doing perfectly fine.

just looking for info and some opinions. seems that the dust has started to settle over what trully works and what doesnt on this engine. thanks.

 

Good questions

I have been looking for an answer to the above question for a while now but, as far as I know, no one has tested both systems back to back

 

For the headers, the general, and educated, opinion is that the smaller tubes are best if you drive the car often on the street for the sake of low end torque and the bigger ones are better suited for racing and or blower applications.

 

Thermostat. Factory stat is 86 C / 187 F. If you're going to leave your car completely stock then I wouldn't change the stat. But, a 160 stat is better if the other mods you're making are such things as increased timing, forced induction & performance driving as on a track,etc. A lower temp stat does allow lower engine temps if there is suffecient air flowing across the radiator, e.g., 30 mph or higher. In traffic the temps will soar well over 200 F and a 160 stat doesn't really help then unless you program your fans to come on at a lower temp. I believe a 160 stat is better in combination with mild timing adjustments AND a program that allows you to adjust the lower temps that your fan comes on. Then your car will definitely run cooler providing a slight margin of safety for increased timing and hard driving. All Lingenfelter engines leave their shop with 160 stats.

 

I have a C6 6sp Z51.

stock it dynoed 345RWHP/344RWTQ

As for exhaust mods, cat back magnaflows like all others, not much increase 352/348. Kooks headers, 3 inch high flow cats and x-pipe.
Big increase, 373/364. Zindustries tunning and 160 stat, 380/373.
Installed a 220/220 .581/.581 114 LSA's comp cam and AFR duel springs. Result 407/394. As for intakes save your money, they don't make squat compared to the same ones on the C5's, because the factory units flows very well. Put k&N's in, cut the primary covers off flush with the filters and leave the secondary cover in place to protect against water. prop it up with a inch piece of foam rubber over the airbridge. You should be good to go. These mods work I'm living proof that they do. Simple but direct. BTW, still get 28 mpg highway.

Andy G.

 

Thanks for the info Andy. Those are some awesome numbers Do you have any pictures of the air inlet mod you described above?

 

Those are very nice numbers for a small cam and headers. I wonder if there would be much gain with a 224/228 114 level cam.